Tent structure



H. J. REILLY TENT STRUCTURE Jan. 5,1926.

Filed August 20, 1923 J Reilly kisAZ'Zarneya Patented Jan. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES HARVEY J. REILLY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

TENT STRUCTURE.

Application filed. August 20, 1923. Serial No. 658,381.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARVEY J. REILLY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Tent Structure, of which the following is a specif ication.

This invention relates to a tent and per tains particularly to a collapsible frame for supporting the canvas or covering.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a tent which, when erected, will contain a room clear of any posts, braces,

" or other supporting members below the roof. Another object of this invention is to provide a tent of the character described having a collapsible frame so arranged that it may be quickly and expeditiously folded or opened.

A further object of this invention is to provide a frame of the character specified which may be collapsed, and the parts grouped and packed in a very compact 7 space, and which will require a minimum of skill and labor for erection and striking. A still further object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable, strong and inexpensive structure of the character described.

These objects, together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invent-ion illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates the tent with the covering or canvas fully closed; Fig. 2 is a section taken diagonally through the tent frame, one of the posts being shown detached; Fig. 3 shows one of the posts partially folded; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the roof partially collapsed; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a fragment of a truss as shown in Fig 2; and Fig. 6 shows a bundle into which the collapsed frame may be arranged.

The frame as illustrated herein will, when open, provide a rectangular room. However, the inventive idea may be embodied in a frame for a room of any desired shape. As shown herein, the frame is covered with a canvas so that a pyramid roof is provided with four side walls; the junction of the side walls may be such that the canvas is slit and may be fastened by grommets or any other suitable fastening devices. Thus, any one of the side walls may be lifted. However, these are advantages which result from the type of tent structure and do not form a part of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the frame, it consists of four posts; each post for convenience in storing or packing consists of two sections 7 and 8. The sections are pivot-- ally connected by a link 9 so as to permit the posts to be folded and with the sections disposed parallel to one another. The section 8 has a pin at its upper end and the section 7 a spear 11 at the botton. On

section 7 adjacent the joint is a collar 12 and on section 8 is a collar 13. Collar 13 1s far enough from the oint so that a sleeve .14 which is slidably mounted thereon may abut the collar and clear the joint. However, when the sleeve 14 abuts collar 12, it is over the joint and stiffens the latter to form a rigid post.

The roof comprises four collapsible rafters, all pivotally connected to a pinnacle member 15 at the apex. Each rafter comprises sections 16 and 17 hinged to each other by a link. Sections are provided at their free ends with holes to receive pins 10. Collars 18 and 19 are mounted upon the sections adjacent the joints. A sleeve 20 is slidably mounted upon the rafter so that when abutting collar 18 it clears the joint, and when it-abuts collar 19 it extends over the joint so as to stiffen the latter.

Pivotally connecting diagonally opposed rafters are collapsible trusses. Each truss includes sections 21 and 22 hinged together by a link, the truss being pivotally connected at one of its ends to a rafter section 16. Section 21 has a collar 23, and section 22 has a collar 24, A sleeve is mounted upon the truss so that when it abuts collar 23 it clears the joint, and when it abuts collar 24 it will cover the joint. The other two rafters are constructed in a similar manner and are provided with a collapsible truss having a sleeve 26 to stiffen the knuckle.

Suppose it is desired to erect the tent. The posts are unfolded so that the sections are in line and sleeves 14: are moved over the joints to stiffen the posts. The posts are then placed in position at the corners of the tent lay-out, the spear ends being pushed into the ground. The roof is next opened so that the rafter sections are in line and the sleeves 20 positioned to stiffen the rafters. Next the rafters are swung outwardly until the truss sections are in line and the sleeves 25 and 26 moved to cover the joints. Thereupon, the; entire roof is raised and positioned so that the pins 10 on the ends of the posts pass through the openings in the rafters. Suitable guy ropes 27 may be installed as desired. The canvas covering is now placed on the top of the tent. It is obvious that the weight of the canvas will tend to stiffen the frame. In striking the tent, the canvas is first removed, then the roof is lifted from the posts. Next the roof is collapsed by pushing the sleeves from the joints so that the parts may befolded up, as indicated in Fig. 3. The parts are now grouped together and packed into a bundle, as indicated in Fig. 6.

It is obvious that I have provided atent structure which is strong, has few parts, can be packed into a small space and is light in Weight.

W'hat I claim is:

1. A tent frame comprising four uprights, a pyramid roof frame supported thereon and having four rafters joined at an apex, diagonal trusses pivotally connected at their ends to oppositely disposed rafters intermediate the ends of the latter, said trusses being jointed intermediate their ends, and means to lock the truss joints in aligned position, said rafters having eyes at their ends for receiving said uprights so as to be detachably supported thereon.

2. A tent frame comprising four uprights, a pyramid roof frame supported thereon and having four rafters pivotally-joined at the apex, diagonal trusses pivotally conceted their ends to oppositely disposed rafters intermediate the ends of the latter, said trusses being jointed intermediate their ends and sleeves slidably mounted on said trusses so as to be moved over the-joints thereof to lock the'latter inopenposition, said rafters having eyes at theirends for receiving said uprights so as to be detachably supported thereon.

In WltTlGfSS that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 9th day of August, 1923.

HARVEY J. REILLY. 

